Ellen entered her room and immediately flopped onto the bed.

The sheets carried a soft scent of floral soap.

Breathing deeply, she caught a hint of well-dried sunshine and a faint floral fragrance wafting through the open window.

Things she had longed for all her life.

Sally, who had brought in Ellen’s luggage, headed straight to the dress room.

“Is there something you wanted to do when you arrived?”

Sally called out loudly from afar.

“Well, for now, just relaxing at home.”

Ellen replied, raising her voice as well.

“I saw them replanting some garden trees recently. Would you like to take a look?”

“Yes, I’m curious. The weather is nice, so shall we have today’s tea time there?”

“Yes. I’ll prepare it right away. I’ll return soon, so please rest.”

Having finished storing the last dress with a cheerful tap, tap, she completed the packing and left the room.

Following Sally’s lead outside shortly after, Ellen found a garden adorned with late-blooming camellias and plum blossoms.

“There are still camellias here.”

“Yes. The ones recently replanted are plums. It was quite a task to procure the red plum trees.”

“Indeed. It must have been hard to get them.”

Picking up a delicate red plum and branch from the ground, Sally spoke,

“The butler did all the hard work, and we enjoy the benefits. Like this.”

Sally placed the branch beside Ellen’s head, chuckling and teasing about how pretty her miss looked.

As they chatted about various flowers, the sound of a trolley rolling came from behind.

Both turned to look back.

“Harry!”

“Oh my, butler!”

Startled, Sally quickly stood up.

“Harry, what are you doing out here? You should be by Father’s side.”

“The master wishes for me to be by Miss’s side.”

With gentle hands, Harrison placed a teacup before her.

The fragrant tea filled the cup, and the garden was alive with the sound of their friendly conversation.

But wounds cut deeper in warm water than in cold.

Affection… that cozy warmth.

As the warmth spread through her heart, Ellen found herself recalling the wounds she wished to forget.

The first couple’s party she attended after marriage.

The name of the capital’s central nobles’ party evoked both excitement and tension.

But the moment she stepped into the hall, Ellen realized it was a harsher place than she had feared.

A place where talks of territories and business flowed, more intimate rumors circulated, and words aimed more at rivalry than friendship constantly sought gaps.

Yet, in such a place, her husband wore a face brimming with confidence.

He greeted people without a care and remained unshaken even when those he met subtly probed their union.

Looking back now, Ellen thought with a bitter smile that she admired that aspect of him.

She thought he was a truly remarkable man, and that she would surely blend into this society and be of help to him.

That’s what she had thought.

Whether it was fortunate or not, Gillian did not demand much from her.

He asked only one thing: to remain quietly by his side.

It seemed like consideration on his part, and she felt that, despite his stern face, he was quite reliable.

Thus, Ellen was accompanying him as they made rounds of greetings.

Just as he began conversing with a group of nobles, a familiar topic reached Ellen’s ears.

Someone somewhere is making a new machine. A certain family has invested in it. A particular lab has created some institution…

Listening to these stories, she realized it was her chance to blend into this society.

[Oh my, a new machine? I would love to see it.]

At the sudden interjection of a woman’s voice, the man who was speaking turned to look.

It was someone she had never seen before. He introduced himself as Viscount Wilton.

[Ah, Lady Krembell. Are you interested as well?]

[Of course. Our family also has a lab we invest in.]

[By your family, do you mean Crient? Oh, is it Leto?]

[You know of him? He is a talent my father discovered.]

[Haha, how could one be in this business without knowing Crient’s Leto? We also use Leto’s spinning machine. But what I’ve found is not the firmly established spinning machine of Leto, but something new that will lead the next generation.]

[You make it sound very intriguing.]

[Then may I send you an invitation soon? I’m confident you’ll find it irresistible to invest once you hear about it.]

[Alright. I’ll look forward to it.]

She smoothly blended into the conversation, and just as she was feeling slightly elated at a promising start, she began her next sentence.

[Come to think of it, Lord Wilton, I’ve heard you have quite an interest in the arts…]

[Viscount Wilton, excuse me for a moment.]

Gillian suddenly interrupted Ellen’s words.

[Duke?]

As Ellen looked at him in confusion, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and spoke to her.

[Gill.]

[Ah… Gill.]

A pet name, perhaps? Was it something she could always call him?

Feeling a slight thrill, she corrected her address, and he turned back to the other nobles, excusing himself.

[Before it gets any later, I’d like to show my wife the garden of this castle. I hope you understand.]

[Haha, the garden of the Stuttfeld family is famous. It’s lovely to see such affection between a couple, Duke.]

[Then, if you’ll excuse us.]

[See you next time, Viscount.]

[I’ll send the invitation to Krembell, Lady.]

Hearing those words, Gillian’s brow furrowed slightly.

Ellen saw his face twist as soon as they turned their backs on the Viscount.

From behind came the sound of men joking about newlyweds and laughing uproariously.

The lights of the party passed by her and flowed behind.

As they walked far enough that the garden trees were barely visible in the moonlight, Gillian, with a frighteningly stern face, headed further out.

Sensing something was wrong, Ellen spoke up.

[What happened all of a sudden…]

[You.]

[……?]

[Who gave you permission to talk about investing anywhere?]

A deeply displeased frown. A cold face unlike the one at the party.

[Oh. If it’s about that, of course, the final decision lies on the head of the family, but just now…]

Just now was a kind of social activity, and whether there was actual investment value could be decided after one of them investigated and discussed it together.

That’s what she wanted to say.

But Gillian didn’t wait for her to finish her words.

[Your job is not to add to my work. Do your duty as the Duchess of Krembell. Isn’t that what you like? Status?]

[……]

[Your job is to show our unity and handle the social affairs I can’t attend to.]

[But…]

[Don’t worry about unnecessary things, just smile and enjoy yourself. Understand?]

But Gillian didn’t listen to her opinion at all.

Savoring the fragrant aroma, Ellen took a sip of tea.

‘Yes. He probably didn’t want to create a situation where his funds could be traced. It was not long after we married.’

Gillian Krembell… a man who dreamed of rebellion under the name of the third heir to the throne.

Upon becoming a Duke, he planned a ten-year strategy for rebellion and needed vast funds for it.

Like any other noble, the easiest way was undoubtedly marriage.

Among the prospects in the marriage market, he chose her.

As the most accessible source of funds.

Ellen quietly set down her teacup.

“Sally.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“When we go in later, could you pack some light clothes suitable for the south?”

“Yes. But did you mean the south instead of the central region?”

“Yes. Oh, you’ll be coming with me, so you’ll need to pack your things too.”

“Understood. If you’ll be visiting other estates, should I include a couple of party dresses?”

“It wouldn’t hurt to pack them. Please take a little trouble.”

“…Yes, Miss.”

Sally seemed concerned about her sudden decision to go to the unfamiliar south, hesitating for a moment as she gazed at Ellen.

However, neither she nor the butler, Harrison, said anything about Ellen’s decision.

They simply trusted her in silence. No matter what she chose to do.

“Let’s all live here together for a long time.”

Ellen said with a wide smile.

“Oh my, but I still want to get married.”

“Then bring your husband here. If Sally has a child, I’ll look after them like my own niece or nephew.”

“Can I take that as a promise of a generous dowry?”

“Let’s call it tuition for the child rather than a dowry. Honestly, I hate the idea of you leaving with a dowry to get married.”

“I’ll have to remember that.”

“Butler!”

Joyful laughter echoed in the garden, and the three of them said nothing about her sudden return home or her incomprehensible journey to the south.

* * *

That evening, Ellen went straight to Daniel to discuss her decision.

“I’m thinking of visiting Bellenios.”

Naturally, Daniel looked quite bewildered by the sudden announcement.

“What, right after arriving? And Bellenios? That’s not even another territory, but another country? Why all of a sudden?”

“I made a promise to His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“A promise to His Highness… You mean about the relief?”

“Yes. I’m thinking of importing some crops from the Vienna Territory.”

“The Vienna Territory in Bellenios…”

Daniel paused for a moment, then seemed to recall something, looking surprised as he asked.

“Are you planning to bring back potatoes?”

“Yes. The seed potatoes we have for research purposes are not nearly enough. Of course, if possible, we should also bring wheat or corn flour.”

“Well… potatoes… they’re certainly effective, but will people like them?”

“Better than going hungry.”

Ellen replied calmly.

In the face of survival, there are no words like best or second best. There is only possible or impossible.

In fact, when Istazio wavered due to a sudden wheat famine, Bellenios, considered a relatively backward country, endured without significant damage.

“Alright. Be careful on your journey.”

Leaving heavy words of permission, Daniel searched his pockets and handed her something.

“You’ll need this. I’ll give it to you now.”

“This is the family’s…”

“Yes. It’s the family’s seal. You’ll be representing Crient. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Father. Then I’ll leave the preparations for the social season to you.”

“Got it. But as I’ve said repeatedly, it’s really just the initial quantity. If the food doesn’t sell, we’ll donate it to the slums under His Highness’s name, but if the dresses miss the trend, it’s a direct loss. Please understand.”

“Yes. That’s enough.”

Truly, it was enough.

To be first, to seize the beginning faster than others.